Raising a Glass for a Cause

From our friends over at Lakefront Brewery there is this:

***Update! PUTIN IS A DICK CROWLERS ARE SOLD OUT FOR THE TIME BEING! We have a head count of the current line at the Beer Hall and hopefully we can satisfy those that are here now at 11:45. We have another 5000 labels ordered for next week we'll start selling as soon as we get them. We'll continue to keep you updated on Facebook and Instagram.

 

OMG, thank you for the overwhelming response! Our Ukraine benefit “Putin is a Dick” crowlers are now a real thing and are currently on sale at Lakefront Brewery Beer Hall! Any of our draft brews in a 32 oz crowler can for $16, and proceeds go to National Bank of Ukraine Fundraising Account for Humanitarian Assistance to Ukrainians Affected by Russia’s Aggression. Thank you SO much for supporting our friends in Ukraine!

 

If you would like to make an independent contribution, go here: https://shard-cow-7b4.notion.site/HOW-YOU-CAN-SUPPORT...

 

We are donating to the National Bank of Ukraine Fundraising Account for Humanitarian Assistance to Ukrainians Affected By Russian Aggression: https://bank.gov.ua/.../natsionalniy-bank-vidkriv-rahunok...

 

That's right Putin is a Dick!

Only In Wisconsin

From outside a veterinary clinic in Eagle River.



Only in Wisconsin....

Failure To Thrive

Over the years I have blogged about the best roasted pumpkin seeds in the world - both here and at the former Wauwatosa Blog.  This is no small deal - these seeds are the pumpkin seed equivalent of crack cocaine.  Absolutely addicting.

The problem lately has been obtaining enough gourds to get larger quantities of seed into the kitchen supply chain.  The 2016 and 2017 growing seasons were marked by an insufficient inventory of Kakai pumpkins largely a consequence of failure top thrive.  Poor seed germination.  I thought initially it was due to wet conditions or some sort of blight.  Or the unlikely possibility that I was doing something wrong.  Yet my pal Six Deuce was experiencing the same issues - dismal survivability.

There is this notation of the packet of the 2018 seeds - 30% more seeds as germination is below Federal standard at 61%.  Heck, until now I had no clue there was a Federal germination standard.  Jung Seed clearly stands by their product.  Bravo for them.

Hmmm.  Maybe something else is afoot?  Not operator error on the part of the gardener?  Just plain-old failure to germinate.





I planted two hills of kakai seeds - likely sixteen in all.  As of yesterday I had one successful sprout.

I replanted and will keep my fingers crossed.  Probably should do what my pal Six Deuce has been doing - starting the seeds indoors for transplanting...

The World's Largest Grill

File this under auspicious sightings.  

click on the grill to enlarge

On my way out of Milwaukee yesterday today I spied the World's Largest Grill heading northbound on I-43.   

This engineering marvel is 20 feet tall, a whopping 65 feet long and 6 feet in diameter.  The 6,000 pound lid with an 8-foot handle is opened using a hydraulic system, giving access to 440,000 BTUs capable of cooking 2,500 brats an hour or 750 bratwurst at a time on its 40 square feet of grilling surface.  If Johnsonville is claiming this to be the Largest Grill - I do not doubt the veracity of the claim.  

You can learn more about it here.  And best of all it’s on tour.  Next stop is Michigan...

Tanning With Your Lottery Winnings

In case you’re wondering about who the apparent winners and losers will be following the repeal of Obamacare  you should start taking careful notes.   Here’s a start.  

In the winner column you will find the Tanning Bed Industry.  Yessir, it is told that the 10% excise tax imposed by the ACA - as both a revenue source and to discourage indoor tanning - has led to the closure of as many as half of the nation’s tanning salons.  

This critical dearth of artificially-imposed dangerous UV should begin to reverse very soon. Nevertheless, If there isn’t a tanning bed salon opening soon on a corner storefront near you - President Trump says to use orange spray-on tan.   

In the loser column are the lottery winners.  Pages upon pages, upon pages of language in the repeal bill are devoted to ensuring that lottery winners would not be able to avail themselves of Medicaid coverage.  Medicaid is for poor people - not for sudden millionaires. 

You can thank the enthusiastic Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI 6^th District) for his legislative vigilance on this.  Bravo.   

Of course, people of wealth or common sense (or both) don’t play the lottery.  And they’re not generally Medicaid beneficiaries either.  Oh well.  

You can learn more about the winner and loser scorecard here.

No Middle-Aged White Guys Were Harmed

Recent Hindu and Muslim immigrants are remarkably well-educated according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center. On average, Hindus in the U.S. have nearly 16 years of schooling while Muslim Americans have nearly 14 years of schooling.  According to Pew - Jews in the U.S. average 14.7 years or schooling contrasted with 12.7 years for U.S. Christians.

Enjoying this level of education these immigrants typically find more lucrative positions thereby challenging assertions that immigrant workers are stealing jobs from native-born workers at the lower end of the job pyramid.

Fascinating.

You can read the entire story at NPR here. 

Spiritual Sweet Tooth

Ice cream yesterday at a three generations-old Manitowoc business fixture.

Beerntsen's Confectionary, Sandwich and Ice Cream Parlor.

If you're look to indulge your spiritual sweet tooth - I highly recommend the chocolate Last Supper.

Wisconsin Ship Building

Bay Ship announced that they've secured a contract to build a couple of these boats.

This is a PSV - Platform Supply Vessel - to be built for delivery to the Gulf Coast supporting off-shore drilling activities.

Fincantieri Marine - the Italian owner of Bay Ship - is doing pretty well.  Sister company - Marinette Marine - is building ten of these.

This is an LCS - Littoral Combat Ship - built for delivery to the US Navy.  One of two LCS designs - this boat will support littoral (close to shore) operations.  It's a stealthy surface combatant capable of defeating anti-access and asymmetric threats with an emphasis on speed and flexible mission capability.

This puppy can move at a walloping 50 knots at sea!  That's a mouthful - but you can get the straight scoop here.

Then there is this vessel.

This is a 60 foot research vessel  - designed by naval architects at SeaCraft Design in Sturgeon Bay and built by Burger Boat of Manitowoc - for delivery to the State of Wisconsin.

Sturgeon Bay will be home port to the R/V Coregonus.  Duties will be conducting research in Lakes Michigan and Superior to support commercial and sport fishing. 

Sport fishing alone generates about $420 million annually and sustains 5,000 jobs.

The Coregonus will replace the the aging research vessel Barney Devine - originally a fishing tug - also built by Burger 75 years ago.

Research Vessel Coregonous is a thoroughly modern vessel.  Powered by a pair of Caterpillar C12 diesels its semi-planning hull will allow it to cruise at up to 20 knots.  It also sports modern safety features such as watertight bulkheads and compartments, an automatic fire suppression system in the engine compartment, heated rear deck (to prevent icing), cold water survival suits, a USCG-approved ten man life raft and emergency positioning beacon. 

Learn more about the Coregonus here and be sure to click on the videos detailing the assembly process.

Boat building in northeast Wisconsin appears to be doing fine.